Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-18

~ aHcNcttc HsNIEcttcaiAJ inc Vie.
tn the Editor of the DisDatoh:
Persons Of artistic predictions and
true conception OF "thc eternal fitness
Of things are delighted nj the action
of the Manchester Council in Offering
to appropriate $1,000 and give q site
Tor the Lee monument. TWAS grand
lGoa-hordeling on the practical and
worthy Of an Oscar Wilde in the fitness
and perfect harmony Of it-and it can
now be 10 longer claimed, as some
sayants have contonded, that Ameri-
cans are lapsing, and that il is only
question of time when We shall all be-
come American Indians. OF course the
site that the Manchestorians had in
view when they voted this appropria-
ton was the battery on Spring Hill a
height commanding at the same time
the most picturesque section and largest
extent of territOry-ah commanding
Richmond itself-and this IS n strategic
or military point. Perhaps the very
spot that Lee would have chosen
had the Union army persisted III the
capture of Richmond from the north OF
the jones river, and when forced to
abandon it. it would have been most
likely upon this hill that he would have
planted himself and said; "Ihus far
and 10 farther shalt thou 60.
Most lovers of nature Of this city
who have made pedestrian tours over
the fields and beautiful hills that en-
viron Richmond and Manchester have
visited this pretty, and / may say also
historical hill, and have observed the
peculiar location Of Richmond, which
spreads itself north, south, east, and
west. and down to the river, which
stream from this hill resembles a silver
horseshoe, with its waters glistening in
the sunlight, and ct night the picture is
made still more perfect by the pyrO-
technical display Of electric lights.
which, following the river banks, cucir-
Giles this hill, as it were, which is almost
in the middle Of the horseshoe, it be-
ing the frog of the foot formed 10y
/ Richmond and extending nearly around
! Manchester. Mr.. Editor, conceive OF
| the equestrian statue OF the immortal
Loc crowning this lovely hill. Suppose
the face of the statue to be slightly
turned in the direction OF Hollywood,
where are campcd in silent bivoulc 4.
+. ill, Pickett, and ). L. 3. Stuart
with their slumbcriug regiments at this
moment A little beyond in mob.
strlcted view is Camp-Wmder HOspi-
til IN still further view is the Capitol
Of tie Confederacy, whore for years
the Confederate Congress held its ses-
SONS "a little furtherto the right is Chin
borazo Hospital where were the Con-
federate sicl, and wounded, and near 10y,
too, Oakwood cemetery with its Is, 0DD
dead Confederates. Conceive, still
further, one hand of the statue holding
the reins Of the horse and the other
extended in the direction of the
battle-felds beyond lakewood and
Chimborazo. With the statue 50
situated Richmond might be said to
/ be under the very eyes and protecting
AIMS Of the great General. The picture
would be so real with the explosions Of
the Tredegar iron rolls that Lee might be
thought to be in actual command, not
only OF the battle-felds around Rich
mond, of the camps and hospitals, but
Of the very personnel OF the Confed-
eracy in its Senate and Congress in the
| Capitol. With the monument on this
site Lee would be on guard eternally
| and would serve as beacon light to
the children of his old guard who would
| Lave il ever before them whether they
were on the busy marts of Main or
Broad streets where it'could be seem,
or from Hollywood and Chimborazo, to
which places the sons OF the Confede-
rates will ever make pious pilgrimage.
Without possibility of cavn Spring
Hill is the spot par excellence for the
statue, and gallant Manchester will be
on hand with the money should it be
called for "RICaMoND.